Bread toaster



Ap 1951 A. c. GODDARD 2,549,375

BREAD TOASTER F l d Dec. 8, 1949 (90 W mmum 1:

' JNVENTOR. A1 1///\/ U. 60.004

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 BREAD TOASTER Alvin O. Goddard, Long Island, N.Y., assignor to Toast-O-Lator (30., Inc., Long Island City,,N. Y., acorporation of New York Application December 8, 1949, Serial N 0.131,780

' 4 Claims. (01. 99-386) wardly then downwardly and then return it tothe original position. I

The slice advancing element is driven by a motor through a suitableeccentric to give it the required advancing and returning movements. Therate at which the slice is passed through the toaster, and accordinglythe degree of toasting, is dependent upon the amplitude of the cycle andthe amount that the slice is advanced for each cycle.

In my present invention 1 provide an advancing mechanism in which theamplitude of the advancing cycle and the degree -of toasting isautomatically controlled by a lever which operates the switch for themotor and heating elements. I also provide a common support for themotor and related elements and the switch and regulating control so thatthey may be readily assembled and inserted in the toaster without thenecessity for adjustment of the relative positions of the elements.

The various features of the invention are illustrated, by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side View,the lower part being in section, of a toaster embodying a preferred formof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, from the opposite direction, of the switch andregulating elements;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch and regulating elements;

Fig. 4 is an end view of a portion of the base of the toaster showingthe position of the end of the operating lever.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings,the slice advancing elements are mounted in a hollow base III whichsupports an enclosure I I for the heating elements between which theslice to be toasted passes. Within the base is secured a framecomprising a vertical plate I2 extending lengthwise of the direction oftravel of the slice. On this base is mounted an electric motor I3 theshaft [4 of which carries a pair of worms I5 and I6, one at each side ofthe motor. Each worm engages a gear, of which one, indicated at IT, isshown;

the other being removedto show the eccentric for the toast advancingelement.

Each of the gears I1 is mounted on a shaft l8 on which is fixed aneccentric [9, only one being shown as the other is covered by the gearIT. The shafts I8 are journalled in the frame I2, which may be stampedor formed with suitable holes to mount the motor and the gears.

Slidably mounted on the frame I2 is a toast advancing element 20carrying serrated engaging elements 2! at its upper end. The sliceadvancing element is provided with a pair of slots, only one, indicatedat 22-, being shown; the other being hidden by the gear I1. The slots 22extend horizontally in the direction of advancement of the slice and areshaped at their upper and lower and rear edges to fit the eccentrics I9which are received in these slots. As the cams or eccentrics I9rotate atthe same speed and with the same relative angular positions, they raisethe element 20 to a position to engage and support the lower edge of theslice and then moveforwardly. 7 If the slice advancing'element 20 wereheld from longitudinaldisplacement the cams I9 would move forwardly inthe slots 22 to approximately the forward edge thereof, thus passing inengagement with the respective slots. The slice advancing element is,however, pulled forwardly by a spring 23 secured at one end to ananchorage 24 in the frame and at its other end to the element .20.Accordingly, when the toast advancing element is lifted and the camsrotate in a forward direction the spring 23 pulls the element 2|]forwardly to keep each cam in engagement with the rear edge of itsrespective slot. This would give the toast advancing element maximumamplitude or movement in a forward direction.

To limit the forward movement of the element 20 for each cycle, it isprevented from moving beyond a point which may be set or adjustedthereby giving a shorter advance to the slice for each cycle and aslower passage between the heating elements and providing a longer timefor toasting. This adjustable stop is mounted on the plate I2 in fixedrelation to the cams I9 and comprises a bell crank lever 25 provided inan. opening in the plate I2 and having a horizontal control arm 26 whichprojects through a slot 2'! in the base I0 and is provided with a knob28 to be engaged by the fingers so that the arm 29 may be tiltedupwardly or downwardly.

Extending upwardly from the pivotal point of the lever 25 is a verticalarm 29 carrying at its upper edge a top piece 30 extending across theand top piece 30 press the spring 3| backwardly onto the switch 32 toopen the latter.

When the arm 26 is swung upwardly, movin the top piece 30 away from thespring 3|, the latter springs forwardly closing the switch 32. If thearm 26 is stopped immediately after the switch is closed the top piece39-will be at its greatest distance from the slice advancing element andthe amplitude or movement of the latter will be a maximum, therebyproviding rapid movement of the slicethrough the passage between theheating elements and-giving a light toasting effect. If the arm is swungfarther upwardly the top piece will move closer toward the sliceadvancing element, limiting the forward movement of the latter,decreasing its amplitude or distance, of movement and delaying thepassage of the slice so that it is subjected to a longer heating timeand darker toast is obtained.

The front part of the toastermay be marked as shown in Fig. 4designating light and dark toast and off and on for the switch.

By having the switch control and heating con trol mounted on a commonframe or plate with the motor and eccentrics, this plate may be stampedor punched with the respective openings for the eccentric shaft, motorand pivot of the lever so that they will be accurately positioned whenplaced on the plate and no adjustment is required for accuratepositioning. Also .1

the above arrangement is one in which the control of the toast isreadily accessible and being connected to the switch will be madeautomatically upon turning on the switch.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A toaster having asupporting frame, a slice engaging and advancing element in slidablerelation to said frame, said element having a slot elongated in thedirection of travel of said slice, a spring acting on said element inthe direction of advancement of said slice, a motor mounted on saidframe, an eccentric driven by said motor engaging the top, bottom andrear edges of said slot and an adjustable stop mounted on said frame infixed relation thereto to limit the forward movement of said element.

2. The toaster of claim 1 having a lever pivoted on said frame in fixedrelation to said motor and saideccentric and pivoted to move said stopto and from said slice advancing element.

3. The toaster of claim 1 having a switch mounted on said frame and alever pivoted on said frame in fixed relation to said switch and to saideccentrics and tiltable to open and close said switch and. to move saidstop to or from said toast advancing element.

4. Ihe toaster of claim 1 having an enclosing base, an electric switchmounted on said frame and a lever pivoted on said frame and having onearm to engage said switch and to move said stop to or from said sliceadvancing element, said base having a slot and said lever having an armextending through said slot.

ALVIN C. GODDARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,076 De Matteis Mar. 22,1938 2,149,566 Anderson Mar. 7, 1939 2,151,695 Goddard Mar. 23, 19392,188,309 Pentecost Jan. 30, 1940

